Unplugging from technology is easier said than done. However, it’s never more important or beneficial than during a vacation or during the holidays. The average person spends approximately 2 hours per day on social media. This translates into a total of 5 years and 4 months over a lifetime, surpassing our total amount of time spent eating and drinking, socializing, and grooming. If those statistics don’t make you want to unplug, I don’t know what does.
It’s true our lives are basically run by the contents of our smart phones. Calendars, correspondence, photographs, alarm clocks, bank accounts, and entertainment are just a handful of the things for which we rely on technology. There’s no doubt it makes our lives easier, but stop and think about the time we waste scrolling through our different apps just because we’re bored. We’re never going to completely unplug, but there are some things we can do to become more intentional with our use of technology. Here are some tips we found.
STRATEGIZE THE SETUP OF YOUR PHONE
Reduce the number of notifications you receive. You’re much more apt to check your phone if you’re constantly reminded it exists.
You don’t need to delete your social media accounts completely. Just delete the apps and interact only on your desktop. This significantly reduces the amount of time spent on social media, particularly the mindless browsing.
PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE DEVICE
Sometimes our phones start to feel like they’re part of our body. Everyone is familiar with the general sense of panic that sets in when you’ve lost your phone. Some of the best advice you can take is to simply separate yourself from your device. Leave it on the charger by your bed while you watch a movie with your family or grill out. This allows you to be more present in whatever you’re doing, and your phone is still close by and working whenever you need to make a call or send a text.
BE REALISTIC BUT INTENTIONAL
Technology is a huge part of today’s society, and most aspects of our world are better for it. Our smart phones seem to be integrating deeper into our lives. It’s up to us to learn a balance. We have to be realistic about the fact that we’re never going to be able to completely unplug. No matter how nice it sounds, you’re never completely off the grid. Even the most remote islands today have wifi. Our social media news feed is not going to stop. We’ve got to be the ones who learn to control our consumption. This is only going to happen when we’re intentional about our habits.
As we approach the holiday season and brand new year, our focus tends to turn towards quality time with friends and family followed by a fresh start and improved habits. Our consumption of technology is a great place to start when considering both of these goals. To read more on the topic, click here, here, or here.